Levee



`(No Mom.)

J. W. CRUMP.

LEVER.

Patented May 16, 18.8.2.

INVBNTOR I v WITNESSES Q. mm

N. PETER; Phmmmgnpher. wmngwn. n c.

` UNITED" STATESV PATENT (Diarios,

JOHN W. onUMP, or WEs'r'PoINT, MISSISSIPPI.

LEVEE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 258,025, dated May 16,1882, Application led April 3, 18821 (No model.) l

To all whom fit may concern Be it known that I, JOHN W. GRUMP, of WestPoint, county of Clay, and State of Mississippi, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in Levees; and I do hereby declare that the followingis a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, inwhich- Figure 1 is a perspective view ot' my improved levee, showingitin process ot' construction 5 and Fig. 2 is a side elevation of thetop portion of one section of the continuous frame-work for supportingthe levee, showing the manner of using arms l to stop acrevasse.

The object ot my invention is to increase the strength and durability ofthat class of levees provided with a continuous fence or wall extendinglongitudinally through the levee; and

2o to this end my invention consists, first, in the employment ot' twoor more fences or walls passing longitudinally through the levee andparallel with each other, the rear fence or Wall being highest and thefences or walls in front of it each diminishing in height toward theriver-front, thereby forming one or more intervalsv or troughs filledwith earth between the fences or walls for receiving the downwardpressure ofthe water acting on the levee,

forcing the earth ot' the levee more thoroughly into said intervals ortroughs, thus preventing Vthe sloughing of the levee and strengtheningit by the weight of the water upon it, closing hles or cracks therein byforcing the deposit 3 5 into said iuterstices,and preventing or greatlydiminishing the liability to the formation of crevasses by eifectuallykeying it into the intervals or troughs. It is well known,"also, thatthe action ot' the water upon a levee has a 4o tendency towear away orhatten the riverfront ot' the levee. Walls above V4described seriousinjury to the levee is prevented.

My invention further consists ot devices to preventA andrcpair crevassesin a levee, as

hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, a a repre sent the usual muckditches madealong the line the levee is to occupy, near its center, and

5o serving as keys'to hold the earth ofthe levee.

b b are piles driven into the earth by pile- By the employment ofthedrivers' or other suitable means, along the back shoulders, @,of themuckditches a. To

the piles b b are secured, by suitable means,

Vbeing of less height than the one in rear of it.

In lieu of the wooden boards @,boards made of terracotta provided withnail-holes at their ends, or metallic or any other suitable material,may he employed, or two or more brick walls may be used. Suitablebraces, c e, are employed to support the fences or walls. The back orouter fence or wallextends nearly to the crown or roadway of the levee,`and each adjacent fence or'wall diminishes in height toward theriver-front, so that the fences or walls are arranged like stair-steps.The dirt to form the levee is then thrown over the fences or walls, soas to thoroughly cover them and the piles to prevent decay, and thelevee formed in the usual manner. The piles b are taperedA at theirupper ends, and each opposite pair ot' inner piles is provided withiight and left shoulders 71, 7L, having holes t' i at their lower endsto receive the heut ends of angular arms l l, pivoted in the holes t',and provided with eyes m at their upper ends, which may be perforated orserrated on their outer edges. The

angular arms l ordinarily are inclined. to the piles, and are covered bythe levee, excepting their eyes m, which lie above the levee, so as tobe exposed to view; and short blocks may be passed through the eyesofthe arms to pre vent their being forced into the ground.

In case the levee is threatened or danger of a crevasse is apprehendedthe arms l l are raised at the point threatened to a vertical position,and are lirmly supported in their raised position by the shoulders h hin the upper ends of the piles, and the raised arms will act as supportsfor a plank or planks resting against them to resist waves and preventthe washing of the crown of the levee.

' [n case a crevasse is formed in the crown ot' the levee the felices orwalls of the levee will prevent the deepening of the crevasse to thebottom of thc levee, thereby. giving ample time for the repair of thelevee, which is accomplished by connecting the raised arms l by ropes,chains, or other connections, forming a net-work to prevent the escapeof sand-bags or other material thrown into the crevasse for the purposeof closing the same.

The pile and arm devices just described may be applied to levees of theordinary construction (threatened With a crevasse or not).by drivingpiles with shoulders and arms at their upper ends into the levee, asdescribed in my improved construction.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

l. A levee with two or more continuous parallel walls, the rear wallbeing highest und' the others diminishing successively in height towardthe river-front, all the Walls resting on the ground under the levee andcovered by it, substantially as described,`and for the purpose'setforth.

and left shoulders h h, of the pivoted angular arms l l, substantiallyas described, and for the purpose set forth.

JNO. W. CRUM P.

Witnesses:

SoLoN C. KEMON, OHAs. A. PETTIT.

